In Godard's dystopian city of the future (shot in Paris), a dictator suppresses love and poetry, and rules that "people should not ask 'why', but only say 'because'." American actor Eddie Constantine plays a secret agent with the mission to kill the dictator, in a fantaisie-driven mélange of science fiction and film noir, a standout among the celebrated films of the nouvelle vague master of Breathless, Contempt and Pierrot le Fou. The ever-mysterious Anna Karina plays a citizen of Alpha 60 whose curiosity about desire leads her into danger.

"The passage of almost half a century has done nothing to dim its stylishness, blunt its humour or extinguish its piercing message." - Guardian journalist Richard Williams, from the 'My Favorite Film' series.